*I had forgotten that THE GOO GOO DOLLS began as a garage punk band. That, and that their self-titled debut was released in 1987. It doesn't seem like it's been that long.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: May 18, 2007 12:00 am

*I had forgotten that THE GOO GOO DOLLS began as a garage punk band. That, and that their self-titled debut was released in 1987. It doesnât seem like itâs been that long.

Regardless, the former punkers will be at Mohegan Sun Arena for a summer concert on Wednesday, July 25, with special guest Lifehouse. Tickets have been set at $35 and will be going on sale this morning (May 18) at 10 am through TicketMaster vendors. Remaining tickets will also be available beginning tomorrow at the arenaâs box office.

*Blues lovers across the state already know that itâs time for the 2007 Connecticut Blues Society Blues Challenge. For the rest of us, here are the details:

The event returns to Black-Eyed Sallyâs BBQ & Blues CafÃ© in Hartford this week.

The first rounds have been set for Thursdays, May 17, 24 and 31, and June 14. A panel of judges consisting of blues radio DJs, musicians, music writers, and hardcore fans will award each band a score of one to ten in the categories of blues content, talent, originality, and stage presence, the same criteria used at The Blues Foundationâs International Blues Talent Competition.

Winners of each weekly preliminary event will compete in the Blues Challenge Finals round on Saturday, September 15, at the Hannon-Hatch VFW in West Hartford. The band winning the finals competition will represent Connecticut in the Blues Foundationâs International Blues Challenge, to be held in January 2008 in Memphis, Tenn.

*Meanwhile, JEFF PITCHELL & TEXAS FLOOD will kick off the weekend of music up at Black-Eyed Sallyâs. Pitchell will be in Hartford on Friday night (tonight, yes), and then Boston-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Lydia Warren will bring her blues talent to the restaurant-cafÃ© on Saturday, May 19.

*Ives Concert Park in Danbury has released its 2007 summer schedule, and the first show is just a few weeks away.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE will open this yearâs season on Saturday, May 26, with an 8 pm show. Gates will be open at 5:30 that afternoon, so picnics and early attendees will be able to get in a few hours before the show.

Picnics are still being welcomed at the park, but a notice on Ives Parkâs website says that alcoholic beverages and glass containers or any kind will no longer be allowed on concert grounds. Be sure to keep that in mind when planning any future excursions; drinks (alcoholic and otherwise) are of course available for purchase within the park.

Tickets for Earth, Wind & Fire are $30 for lawn seating, $15 for children on the lawn, and range from $52 to $98 for reserved seating. The box office is behind the Information Desk (second floor lobby) of the WCSU Campus Center on the universityâs westside campus in Danbury. The box office is open Monday through Thursday from 7 am until 11 pm, Friday from 7 am until 10 am, Saturday from 9 am until 10 am, and Sunday from 9 am until 11 pm; it can be reached by calling 837-8499.

Tickets for Ives Concert Park can also be purchased online through tickets.com.

The season will continue with a concert by American Idol finalist PARIS BENNETT on Friday, July 20. Tickets for that show are not yet on sale, so check the website in a week or so if youâre interested in that concert.

Â Drummer Jason Bonham will be joining FOREIGNER for its summer tour, which will be in Danbury on Thursday, August 2. Tickets are $25 for adult lawn seating, $13 for children lawn, and range from $45 to $85 for reserved seats.

The following evening will see CHRIS ISAAC headlining at the park. Tickets for that August 3 show are also $25 and $13 for adult and children lawn seating, respectively, while reserved tickets range from $55 to $72.

And right now it looks like the season finale will be by Grammy Award-winning KENNY LOGGINS on Monday, August 13, and lawn seating is again $25 and $13, while reserved tickets run from $45 to $85.

*Continuing its tradition as the Northeastâs premier summer music and camping festival, The 12th Annual Gathering of the Vibes, taking place August 9-12 at Seaside Park in Bridgeport, has announced additional artists to supplement its already diverse line-up. New additions include former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart with THE MICKEY HART BAND; bass virtuoso LES CLAYPOOL; funk legends GEORGE CLINTON AND PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC; Allman Brothers Band alum DICKEY BETTS AND GREAT SOUTHERN; ZERO featuring Steve Kimock; roots reggae favorites THE WAILERS; DONNA JEAN (Godchaux-MacKay) AND THE TRICKSTERS; KELLER WILLIAMS AND THE KEELS; U-MELT; JOHN BROWNâS BODY; MARTIN SEXTON; RAILROAD EARTH; STRANGEFOLK; RYAN MONTBLEAU BAND and CHUCH.

These bands join the previously released lineup of Grateful Dead guitarist BOB WEIR WITH his band RATDOG; five-time Grammy Award winner BUDDY GUY; Latin rockers LOS LOBOS; ASSEMBLY OF DUST; Bridgeportâs own DEEP BANANA BLACKOUT; and New Orleansâ DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND. San Francisco icon WAVY GRAVY will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Deep Banana Blackout will team with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic to offer a special tribute to Godfather of Soul James Brown at the event.

Gathering of the Vibes is an all-ages, camp-next-to-your-car event, with on-site food, beverage, and arts and crafts vendors. The Kidâs Corner provides entertainment options for the youngest of attendees. Over 20 bands will appear on two main stages overlooking Long Island Sound. A third stage, the Seaside Beach Stage, will feature over a dozen local and emerging artists on the waterfront.

Tickets are available through GatheringOfTheVibes.com or by calling 203-226-8749. Advance-sale Weekend Camping Passes are available for $140. Children 12 and under are admitted at no charge.

Gates officially open on Friday, August 10, although attendees are welcome to set up camp on Thursday, August 9, for an additional $20 per car. A special tribute to Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia by DARK STAR ORCHESTRA is scheduled for early arrivals on Thursday night, which will be the 12th anniversary of his death.

This festival was launched in 1996 as a celebration of the life of Jerry Garcia, who had died the previous August.

Initially called Deadhead Heaven, the festival provided a forum for fans across the country to remember the counterculture icon. In each of its 12 years, Gathering of the Vibes has paired legendary artists with emerging acts to appeal to a wide cross-section of music fans.

*Speaking of DICKEY BETTS AND GREAT SOUTHERN, the guitarist and rocker is bringing his band into Ridgefield for a pair of concerts next week. The guys will be at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Thursday and Friday, May 24 and 25, for 8 pm shows each night.

Tickets are $70 and $75, and available by calling 203-438-5795 or RidgefieldPlayhouse.org.

Also coming up at the playhouse is JOAN ARMATRADING on June 1 (tickets $65 and $75); blues guitarist JOE BONAMASSA (tickets $27.50 or $40 for Gold seating, which means seating within the first four rows and Meet & Greet credentials) on June 6, with special guest Crosby Loggins; BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY on June 10 (tickets $45); COWBOY JUNKIES on June 14 (tickets $45, or $55 for Gold Seating which includes Meet & Greet); TOOTS & THE MAYTALS, June 17 ($45); ASIA, featuring the original four members, on June 24 (tickets $85 and $90); and JOAN OSBORNE on June 30 (regular seating $50, Gold Circle and Meet & Greet $70).

*The pop tarts are back.

The American Idols Live 2007 Tour, featuring the Top 10 finalists from American Idol â BLAKE LEWIS, CHRIS SLIGH, CHRIS RICHARDSON, GINA GLOCKSEN, HALEY SCARNATO, JORDIN SPARKS, LAKISHA JONES, MELINDA DOOLITTLE, PHIL STACEY and SANJAYA MALAKAR â will be at Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport on Thursday, September 20.

Tickets will be going on sale Saturday, May 19, at 10 am, priced from $39.50 and $52.50 to $72.50. Theyâll be available at the arenaâs box office, and through TicketMaster vendors.

*Finally this week, a reminder that J.D. Hill has started an acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook. These weekly events will take place on Wednesdays, and start time is 8 pm.

A PA and microphones are provided. Sign-up can be done in person or by phone; call Mocha at 364-9200.

Until next week Iâll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

MAY 18 â Rod Stewart at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Steely Dan at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford; Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Black-Eyed Sallyâs BBQ & Blues CafÃ©, Hartford; Tangled Vine at The Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

May 19 â John Voket at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Verve Jazz Quartet at Three Oaks Banquet Facility (Capellaroâs Grove), Bethel; Hat City Blues Band at The Georgetown Saloon; Lydia Warren Band at Black-Eyed Sallyâs;

May 20 â Godsmack at Mohegan Sun Arena;

May 21 â Gwen Stefani at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guests Akon and Lady Sovereign;

May 23 â acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook (weekly event, 8-10:30 pm); Uncle Mustache at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 24 â Dickey Betts & Great Southern at The Ridgefield Playhouse (also playing May 25); round two of 2007 CT Blues Society Blues Challenge at Black-Eyed Sallyâs;

May 25 â Godsmack at The Chevrolet Theatre; Earth, Wind & Fire at Mohegan Sun Arena; Dickey Betts & Great Southern at The Ridgefield Playhouse (also May 24); Huey Lewis & The News at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre; Doug Wahlberg Band at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 25 â Earth, Wind & Fire at Ives Concert Park, Danbury; The Savage Brothers Band at Black-Eyed Sallyâs;

May 26 â John Voket at Brass House Restaurant, Waterbury; McDonald-Teague Band at Black-Eyed Sallyâs; Smokehouse at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 30 â acoustic open mic at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook (weekly event, 8-10:30 pm); âWeird Alâ Yankovic at The Palace Theater, Waterbury; Sarah LeMieux at The Georgetown Saloon;

May 31 â Band Together (Jen Durkin, Sarah Brooks, Nicole Pasternak, Christine Tambakis and Tara Engler, with an all-star band) at Fairfield Theatre Company; round three of 2007 CT Blues Society Blues Challenge at Black-Eyed Sallyâs.

St Rose Parish Welcomes New Parochial Vicar

Youth Cheerleaders And Basketball Players Get Pointers From High School Athletes

Andersen Tale To Continue Richter Summer Season

Future Nighthawks And Current Varsity Players Alike Benefit From Summer Soccer Camp

When Life Gives You A Lemonade Stand ... Play Basketball

It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

<< Jul 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
29	30	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31	1	2

Log In

*I had forgotten that THE GOO GOO DOLLS began as a garage punk band. That, and that their self-titled debut was released in 1987. It doesn't seem like it's been that long.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply